Safeguarding & Child Protection

Pentathlon GB's Safeguarding and Child Protection Service

Safeguarding is about upholding children and vulnerable adults' rights to be safe and treated with due
respect.

Policy

Pentathlon GB has a duty and is committed to safeguard all young people involved with Pentathlon GB from
harm. It’s policy states that:

All young people have a right to protection, and the needs of disabled young people and others who may be
particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. Pentathlon GB will use its best endeavours to ensure the
safety and protection of all children involved in the sport through strict adherence to its safeguarding and
child protection policies, codes of conduct and behavioural guidelines adopted by the Association.

All those taking part in Pentathlon GB activity, in any capacity (athlete, coach, official, parent,
spectator
etc.), or run under its auspicies are bound by this policy and have a shared responsibility to ensure
children
are safe from harm and have an enjoyable experience in Modern Pentathlon.

Key Principles

Every adult has a moral and statutory duty for the care, custody and control of any child under the age
of 18 under their supervision

The child's welfare is paramount

All children, whatever their age, disability, faith, gender, race or sexual orientation have the right
to be protected from abuse

All incidents, allegations or suspicions of poor practice or abuse will be taken seriously and responded
to swiftly and appropriately

All children have a right to play or otherwise participate in the sport of Modern Pentathlon in a safe
and enjoyable environment

All children in this context includes, but is not limited to, athletes, officials and volunteers

All those involved in Modern Pentathlon will be provided with appropriate policies, training and support
to ensure they are able to implement this policy

This section of the website aims to explain:

What child abuse is, the forms it can take (sexual, physical, emotional, discrimination, bullying,
etc.),
how to recognise it and distinguish it from poor practice

How Pentathlon GB aims to prevent abuse, in its many forms, taking place

If you are a child and have concerns about the way you are being treated
click here.

Pentathlon GB's Safeguarding Newsletter is published quarterly and is downloadable from the 'Miscellaneous'
tab
in the Resources section.

Pentathlon GB continually seeks ways to improve the organisation's commitment to ensure the
safety and well-being of everyone who participates within Modern Pentathlon. The overall
benefit and objective is to have a safe, fun and friendly sport, one in which everyone feels
safe and is governed appropriately. If you wish to offer any comments please feel free to do
so here.

How to Recognise it

Even for those experienced in working with child abuse, it is not always easy to recognise a situation
where abuse may occur or has already taken place. It is acknowledged that staff and volunteers are not,
generally speaking, experts at such recognition.

Some indications that a child has been Abused may include:

Unexplained or suspicious injuries such as bruising, cuts or burns, particularly if situated on
a part of the body not normally prone to such injuries;

An injury for which the explanation seems inconsistent;

The child describes what appears to be an abusive act involving him/her;

Someone else (a child or adult) expressing concern about the welfare of another child;

Unexplained changes in behaviour over time e.g. becoming very quiet, withdrawn or displaying
sudden bursts of temper;

Inappropriate sexual awareness;

Engaging in explicit sexual behaviour;

Distrust of adults, particularly those with whom a close relationship would normally be expected;

An apparent difficulty in making friends;

The prevention by an adult from socialising with other young people;

Displaying variations in eating patterns including overeating or loss of appetite;

Weight loss for no apparent reason;

An increasingly dirty or unkempt appearance;

Displaying frequent unexplained minor injuries.

The CPSU website has a series of training videos which can be consulted on-line.

Some children and young people are mentally or physically more vulnerable than others, which could
make it easier for abusers to exploit them. They may also find it more difficult to recognise and
report abuse, and to be believed. In recognising and dealing with abuse, it is important to consider:

Age

For example:

Younger, children have limited life experiences and so have not developed the social skills needed
to work out what the behaviour of others means. This could make them less able to understand what
appropriate and inappropriate behaviours are.

Have been encouraged to comply with other people’s wishes and not to question authority figures.

Are afraid to challenge potentially abusive situations because of fear of the consequences.
It is often easier to be compliant and pleasing rather than risk angering an authority figure and
getting into trouble.

Younger athletes are less likely to be confident about approaching an adult to express a concern
or to articulate it clearly if they do.

Older athletes are more likely to bully younger ones.

Gender/Sexuality

Girls are more likely to be sexually abused than boys.

Homosexuals may hold attitudes or behave in ways that clash with those held by adults with whom they
interact and cause tensions leading to abuse.

Race/Ethnicity

Children from some ethnic backgrounds will have poor linguistic/language/communication skills with mainstream
culture.

As a result they may not be able to report abuse either because there is no-one they can report it to or
because
they do not have the appropriate language to use.

Some ethnic minority families are less likely to share personal concerns outside what they regard as their
own
culture.

Religion

Children from some backgrounds may at times be subject to traditions that prevent them from participating in
sport in the same way as the majority because of beliefs around dress, gender roles, fasting, mixing with
members of the opposite sex etc. This may mask certain types of abuse.

Disabilities

Children with physical and or mental disabilities, are x3 times more likely to be abused because of

Reduced mobility to physically move away from danger

Total dependency on /trust of adults

In some cases more subject to mood swings

May not be able to recognize that abuse has taken place.

Feel powerless because they have to depend on others for personal support.

Are not believed because their authority figures cannot accept that anyone would abuse a disabled child.

May not have anybody they can trust and confide in.

May feel guilt or shame about the abuse which prevents them from reporting it.

May not have a sense of ownership of their own bodies because they are so used to being examined
physically by others as part of their medical and physical care.

Have low self-esteem and a poor self image.

Socio/economic

Children who are in care, left to fend for themselves after school, getting to and from training,
dependent upon adult support from outside the immediate family etc. are more likely to be abused.

Children from poor homes are less likely to feel confident about themselves or have high
self-esteem making them more vulnerable to abuse.

Children from poor homes are less likely to have good communication skills and parental support.

Heritage

Children of abused parent(s) are more likely to be abused by their parents than non abused parents.

It is the duty of anyone witnessing such abuse to
report it immediately to the appropriate authorities.

How to Prevent it

Pentathlon GB aims to safeguard its members and prevent child abuse by:

appointing a Safeguarding and Child Protection Lead Officer and Regional Welfare Officers.

the selective recruitment, management and development of its workforce

The Safeguarding and Child Protection Lead Officer's role is to develop and embed
safeguarding policy and procedures within the organisation. The role and responsibilities
of this position are set out here.

The role and responsibilities of the Regional Welfare Officers is set out
here.

An induction process which includes a briefing on Pentathlon GB Equality, Child
Protection policies and procedures, an assessment of their CP knowledge and
identification of training needs, if appropriate.

Ongoing development and appraisal, including completion of SCUK's Safeguarding & Child
Protection I and II Training as a minimum standard for deployment. A detailed guide to the appointment
of staff (paid and volunteer) is available
here

How to Report and Deal with Cases

Sadly, incidents can and do occur. All members must note that there are clear
prohibited practices identified in the various Codes of Conduct, which must not
be breached. If there is a breach of the prohibited practice or codes of
conduct, this should be reported. If you think you might be the victim of
abusive behaviour, wish to report any abusive behaviour you may have witnessed
or been told about, it is important and your duty to take action and report it
with immediate effect.

Contact the Club or Regional Welfare Officer in the first instance or the
Pentathlon GB Safeguarding and Child Protection Lead Officer (Dr Richard Cox)
(childprotectionoffficer@pentathlongb.org)
on 01928 733283 or 07985 854393. If a lack of response you could also try Childline on
0800 1111 or the NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000. Failing this,
contact the Police or the local authority Children's Services Department. Your
complaint will be dealt with in the strictest confidence and support provided whilst the
matter is dealt with.

For a more detailed description of how to respond to a disclosure of abuse read
this
document.

Criminal matters will be reported to the Police immediately and where urgent support is needed in the case
of an injury, etc. one or more of the other agencies listed below.

For breaches of Pentathlon GB policies, you are asked to complete and submit
the downloadable
Incident Report Form so that we have a full report in writing. The sooner
you do this the better in order to log the full and precise details.

If you are a child and have concerns about the way you are being treated
click here
and follow the advice or call one of the numbers above.

Pentathlon GB operates a Whistle
Blowing Policy should anyone have concerns that their complaint will not be
handled sensitvely and in confidence or will have other negative consequences
for them or their child.

Pentathlon GB has a
Case Management Group which will be convened to address serious breaches of its policies and a
process
after which, having followed its course and found there is clear evidence of
breaches, will be passed on to the Disciplinary Panel and
Process
for a final ruling.

Pentathlon GB operates an
Information Sharing Protcol common with many other Governing Bodies of Sport and
agencies engaged in safeguarding in order to help prevent further offending.

Pentathlon GB also recognizes it has a duty to protect all those who work with young people
from unfair accusation or suspicion by promoting good working practices and providing
support.

If you require any of the Pentathlon GB Safeguarding resources in another language
(spoken or otherwise - sign, Braille, etc.), please contact the Safeguarding and Child Protection
Lead Officer and we will endeavour, where deemed appropriate, to provide the resources in your
chosen language.

Information for Parents regarding Safeguarding

Pentathlon GB has produced the following documents specifically for parents.

If you require any of the Pentathlon GB Safeguarding resources in another language
(spoken or otherwise - sign, Braille, etc.), please contact the Safeguarding and Child Protection
Lead Officer and we will endeavour, where deemed appropriate, to provide the resources in your
chosen language.

Information for Coaches regarding Safeguarding

Pentathlon GB has produced the following documents specifically for coaches.

If you require any of the Pentathlon GB Safeguarding resources in another language
(spoken or otherwise - sign, Braille, etc.), please contact the Safeguarding and Child Protection
Lead Officer and we will endeavour, where deemed appropriate, to provide the resources in your
chosen language.

If you require any of the Pentathlon GB Safeguarding resources in another language
(spoken or otherwise - sign, Braille, etc.), please contact the Safeguarding and Child Protection
Lead Officer and we will endeavour, where deemed appropriate, to provide the resources in your
chosen language.